Youth News

Laverne FFA member Lane Fanning is actively involved in his supervised agricultural experience through his family-owned beef operation.

Fanning’s devotion to agriculture led to his selection as a recipient for one of Oklahoma FFA’s highest honors: the 2016 State Star Farmer. His supervised agricultural experience was recognized as the top agricultural production program among the 797 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 91th State FFA Convention on May 3.

Fanning said record keeping is critical to maintaining a successful business.

“As I record purchases and expenses throughout the year, these records become the basis for the financial records that I provide the bank to support my loan as well as to my accountant to prepare my federal income tax returns,” Fanning said.

Watch a video clip featuring the 2017 State Star in Production Agriculture, Lane Fanning, describe his SAE in production agriculture, by clicking or tapping the PLAY BUTTON in the video box below.

Fanning said he takes great pride in his SAE project and values the lessons he learns from it.

“I have met and greatly exceeded my expectations of my goals when I began my beef stocker program,” Fanning said. “Profitability is ultimately the key indicator of a sustainable and growing business.”

In addition to his cattle operation, Fanning and his siblings, Emily and Jake Fanning, developed Beef for Each and Every Family Project, a community service project with the cattle he raises, he said.

“The BEEF Project is a way for me to give back to the community where I grew up,” Fanning said. “I met with the local ministerial alliance and explained the concept of donating beef to the church run food pantry.”

The ministers purchased a freezer to store the beef in while waiting to be picked up by a family in need, Fanning said.

“Our goal is to donate 12 beefs per year spread equally between food panties,” Fanning said.

Fanning is also highly involved in his local FFA chapter, having the opportunity to participate in many activities on the chapter and state levels.

“While this will be my final year in the FFA, there are many lessons and values I will take with me,” Fanning said. “The hard work, leadership and self-motivation that I have learned throughout my agricultural education and FFA experience I will cherish forever.”

Upon graduation from high school, Fanning plans on attending Oklahoma State University to major in management with a minor in sports management and finance.

The 19-year-old Laverne FFA member is the son of Tom and Michelle Fanning. His agricultural education instructors and FFA advisers are Sandi Kolbe and Jim Culp.

The State Star Farmer of Oklahoma will receive a cash award of $1,500 and the prestigious Governor’s Trophy, which is sponsored on the state level by Davis Farms, Oklahoma AgCredit and the Sirloin Club of Oklahoma. The national sponsors of the award are CNH Industrial Capital.

FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 27,000 members and 357 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.

Fanning was featured on the Blue-Green Gazette page of our website earlier this year in recognition of his achievement being named the Northwest District Star in Production Agriculture. Click or tap here to jump to that story.